87: Chapter 87 Lunar New Year

With several hundred million in capital invested, the Jiucailing Coal Mine had already begun to show results.

General Manager Zhou Tong reported, "Secretary, last month our output was over 200,000 tons. This month, it should more than double because not only has another set of imported mechanized coal mining equipment been put into use, but the section of railway we built is also about to open to traffic..."

After listening to the report, Qin Chuan nodded with satisfaction.

"Has the date for the official opening to traffic been set?"

General Manager Zhou Tong said, "The main reason I came over was to report on this matter. The day after tomorrow is an auspicious day, and we are planning to schedule the official opening for then. What do you think? Is that alright?"

Picking up the calendar on his desk and flipping to the day after tomorrow, Qin Chuan made the final decision, saying, "The day after tomorrow is December 8th. That's a good date. Let's set the opening for then, and we'll hold an opening ceremony."

Since the boss had made the decision, it was set for the day after tomorrow.

General Manager Zhou Tong was even a bit excited; once the railway opened, the Jiucailing Coal Mine could truly go all out, and the daily extraction volume would surely climb steadily.

In the past, they were limited by transportation and had to rely on trucks; no matter how much coal they mined, they couldn't ship it all out.

Things would be completely different after the railway opened. No matter how much coal there was, it could be shipped out, and an annual output of ten million or even twenty million tons would be no problem!

After finishing his report, General Manager Zhou Tong left. As the General Manager, he was very busy with many matters, especially with the railway opening in just a few days.

The current Jiucailing Coal Mine could be described as having undergone earth-shaking changes; the entire mining area had expanded several times over, and very advanced coal mining equipment had been introduced.

General Manager Zhou Tong just wanted to go all out!

After watching General Manager Zhou Tong leave, Qin Chuan said, "The road in our Dahe Township is too dilapidated. Comrade Ma Zhengnan, is there any problem with renovating it before the end of the year?"

There was no shortage of funds; the finances of Dahe Township were quite prosperous now. Additionally, the original bank loan of 560 million included the construction funds for this road.

The roadbed was already in place; they just needed to renovate the surface, replacing the broken concrete pavement with a smooth asphalt one.

Comrade Ma Zhengnan said very confidently, "Rest assured, leave this matter to me. I guarantee it will be open to traffic before the end of the year."

Once this road was repaired, it would be very convenient.

It would not only be convenient for the common people, but also for himself when going to the county for meetings or to report on work. In the future, it would probably only take about twenty minutes to reach the county.

Three days later, the railway for the Jiucailing Coal Mine officially opened to traffic.

Following Qin Chuan's requirements, General Manager Zhou Tong really held a grand opening ceremony. Not only did several key leaders from the county come, but leaders from the city also attended.

After the railway opened, villagers near the Jiucailing Coal Mine often heard the sound of trains. They would always see long trains, pulling twenty or thirty carriages, fully loaded with coal, chugging away.

In December, the extraction volume of the Jiucailing Coal Mine directly exceeded one million tons, a several-fold increase compared to the 200,000-plus tons in November.

With so much coal sold, Dahe Township was truly rich!

Time quickly arrived at the end of the year.

The road in the township that Comrade Ma Zhengnan had promised to complete was finished; he had succeeded.

In just over a month, this road had undergone a magnificent transformation, becoming a beautiful, brand-new, smooth asphalt road.

In a few days, it would be the Lunar New Year, and some work began to be arranged and deployed. Qin Chuan was definitely going back to the provincial capital for the New Year.

Inside the office.

Director Zhou Xiaoyu from the Finance Office was reporting on work.

"Leader, we currently have a total of over 970 million on our books. With so much money, how should we spend it? Should we distribute a little to everyone?"

A township Finance Office with nearly one billion on its books—would you believe it!

Director Zhou Xiaoyu always felt like she was dreaming; having worked in finance her whole life, this was the first time she had encountered such a situation.

So much money mainly came from coal revenue.

The current coal market was very good, and the coal from the Jiucailing Coal Mine was in short supply. Because it was high-quality thermal coal, they could domineeringly tell customers: no credit, payment first, then pick up the goods.

Distribute a little money to everyone before the New Year!

Facing this suggestion, Qin Chuan nodded and said, "Then distribute a little to everyone. It shouldn't be too much; let's say 3,000 per person. In addition, compile a list of all the Five Guarantees households, families in difficulty, and seniors over 60 in the entire township, and distribute 5,000 to each of them."

"Also, allocate one million to the township nursing home and the township health center, and two million to the Dahe Township Central School..."

Qin Chuan gave a series of instructions.

It would be the New Year in a few days. Distributing some money would let everyone have a lively celebration, especially units like the hospital and schools, to which a sum of money should be allocated directly.

Qin Chuan thought to himself that after the New Year, he should consider how to spend the money; otherwise, as it kept accumulating, it would be a headache.

Free medical care for the entire township, free education, free lunches for all primary and middle school students in the township, and so on—shouldn't he consider these?

Shouldn't some of the infrastructure in the entire township be comprehensively constructed?

Also, shouldn't the Township Government office building be reconstructed?

In the past, there was no money, so he didn't dare to consider these aspects. Now it was different; they completely had the conditions to do so.

A few days later, the Lunar New Year quickly arrived.

Qin Chuan returned to the provincial capital on the afternoon of the 29th day of the lunar month and spent the New Year's Eve with his parents and older sister.

Early on the first day of the Lunar New Year, the family of four boarded a plane to Beijing. The entire Qin Family was very lively on the first and second days of the New Year.

Elder Qin was beaming and personally handed out red envelopes to the grandchildren, including Qin Chuan. Furthermore, Elder Qin even called Qin Chuan into his study alone, and the grandfather and grandson chatted for a long time.

This made many of the grandchildren envious.

But while they were envious, they were also convinced in their hearts. After all, Qin Chuan was the only male in the entire third generation and was the person who would carry the banner of the Qin Family in the future.

Even though they were far away in Beijing, it was clear that Elder Qin paid close attention to Qin Chuan. During their conversation, Qin Chuan discovered that his grandfather was very well-informed about his situation.

After staying in Beijing for a day and a night, Qin Chuan returned to Handong Province. There was no helping it; as the Provincial Party Secretary, Provincial Party Secretary Qin Zhendong was very busy and needed to pay New Year visits to many old leaders, while some colleagues and subordinates would also come to pay him New Year visits.

On the morning of the second day of the Lunar New Year, the family returned.

Qin Chuan thought to himself, today is the second day of the New Year; he should go to Uncle Zhu's house for a visit.

Why did he have such a thought?

According to the customs of Handong Province, the second day of the New Year is when a son-in-law visits his father-in-law and mother-in-law to pay New Year respects. Since his relationship with Zhu Qingxi had progressed rapidly and they had already confirmed their status as boyfriend and girlfriend, he should go to the Zhu Family for a visit.

Who would have known that Luo Rong had already thought of this.

Not long after returning from Beijing, she reminded him, "Son, it's almost eleven o'clock. I've already prepared the gifts for you. Give Zhu Qingxi a call, go to her house to pay your New Year respects, and don't come back for lunch."

Qin Chuan said with a smile, "Mom, you are too thoughtful, even preparing the gifts for me. Then I will call Zhu Qingxi right now."